Police need your help identifying Fitzgerald burglary suspect

FITZGERALD, GA (WALB) - The Fitzgerald Police Department is asking the community for help identifying the woman suspected of burglarizing the Vaping Easy Vape Shop on South Grant Street in Fitzgerald.

She not only burglarized the shop once, but came back and did it again.

"It is pretty rare. Having been burglarized on Saturday I wouldn't have expected it to happen immediately again on Tuesday," said Investigator James Tilley.

But Vaping Easy on South Grant Street was burglarized twice in the last week.

"Just kinda disheartening that someone would break into your business that you worked so hard to build," said Owner Victoria Futch.

After the first time, the owner decided to install cameras, and on Tuesday she caught the burglary all on camera.

There appears to be a male with the woman who throws a brick into the door for her to get in. She goes in and out of the store four times, taking different items.

"It leads me to believe it might be somebody close by to here just judging by the comfortableness," said Tilley.

The woman stole a total of around $2,500 in merchandise. Leaving the owners to cover the cost.

"They stole some electronic devices used for vaping and for people to quit smoking and they stole some empty boxes on Tuesday," said Futch.

After reviewing the tapes, the police department wants to lean on the community for help.

"This is their community as much as it is ours and without their help sometimes we couldn't do the things that we do," explained Tilley.

Investigators said they believe the woman is somewhere between 5'5 and 5'8, African American, with a thin build.

"I've only had one in the last 12 years during my time at Fitzgerald that dealt with a black female and burglaries," said Tilley.

There is a $500 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the person responsible for these crimes.

If you have any information, you are encouraged to call the Fitzgerald Police Department at (229) 426-5000.

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